Fiber Backbone Upgrade at American Lake Medical Campus

The American Lake Veterans Hospital in Lakewood, Washington stands as a century-old cornerstone of veterans’ healthcare. Spanning over 400 acres, this historic medical campus encompasses hospitals, specialty medical facilities, monuments, historic streets, and aging infrastructure that has grown alongside the evolving needs of our veterans.

As part of the facility’s modernization, a critical expansion project emerged: installing a new fiber optic trunk line to serve as the campus’s digital backbone. This complex undertaking required threading multiple secondary distribution conduits throughout the campus, navigating both on and off roads while carefully avoiding historically sensitive areas. The project team faced the additional challenge of working around existing infrastructure, including natural gas lines, steam ducts, communication ducts, fire systems, domestic water, power, and irrigation systems – many with undocumented locations.

Tunista Construction took on the challenge of trenching and installing nearly 19,000 linear feet of fiber optic conduit with innerduct. This extensive network would support the campus’s new fiber optic expansion while maintaining uninterrupted medical services for veterans throughout construction.

The project team encountered numerous challenges, from unexpected site conditions and unmarked utilities to protected historical monuments and structures. Success demanded constant communication with both the client and the US Army Corps of Engineers, allowing for real-time problem-solving and design modifications to deliver the best long-term solution for the campus.

This project highlights Tunista Construction’s collaborative approach to complex infrastructure challenges. The team maintained unwavering commitment to safety and quality while working in historically sensitive areas and ensuring minimal disruption to the operational medical facility. Through careful planning, constant communication, and adaptive problem-solving, Tunista Construction successfully delivered this crucial infrastructure upgrade while preserving the campus’s historic character and maintaining its vital healthcare services.